We have compiled a list of free tools for small business owners which include document templates, business tools and other resources which are available online.

If you have any useful resources you’d like us to consider for this page, please send us an email.

Online Software

• Dropbox – store your documents / photos, etc. anywhere – free for initial storage from 2MB – Dropbox
• Google Drive – store your documents online, and collaborate / share your documents with colleagues / clients – Google
• Online newsletter software, up to 12,000 emails per month free (we use it on Company Bug) – MailChimp
• Google Analytics – essential online software to track your website visitors, and measure ROI – Google
• Online accounting software (we use it religiously at Company Bug) – 30 day trial – FreeAgent
• Cloud accounting, billing and invoicing software – 30 day trial – Sage Business Cloud Accounting
• The world’s most popular content management software for your company website (used by Company Bug) – WordPress
• Over 18m free photos/images – handy if you run a website, or a blog – EveryStockPhoto
• Task management, synchronised between phone/laptop/desktop – works with Google Calendar too – RememberTheMilk

Free Services

• Send press releases for free to numerous news sites – PRLog
• Run online surveys – free for the first 100 responses, and inexpensive for the full versions – Survey Monkey
• Conduct advanced Search Engine Optimisation analysis on your competitors – Open Site Explorer
• Online project management (our web designers swear by it) – 45 day free trial – Basecamp
• Keep track of all your social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) in one place – TweetDeck
• Another highly regarded social media account manager – Hootsuite
• Free voice and video calls, messaging and screen sharing with other users – Skype

Templates

• Sample business plans (Over 500 of them) – Blans
• Companies House Forms (Paper and WebFiling) – Companies House
• MS Office Document templates (Proposals, presentations, projects, etc.) – Microsoft
• Invoice templates (for limited companies, sole traders, with or without VAT) – Freelance Advisor

Research

• Search basic information relating to all the limited companies in the UK – Companies House
• Search the UK trademark database (and register your own trademark from £200) – Intellectual Property Office – IPO
• Free IP health check for your limited company, covering patents, trademarks, copyright, etc. – IPO
• Check if a client’s VAT number is valid or not, for the UK and all other EU states – European Commission – VIES

Calculators

• Small business calculators (Corporation Tax, Dividends, VAT, PAYE, etc.) – ContractorUK calculators
• Dividend tax calculator
• Vat calculator 
• Business rates calculator – GOV.UK
• HMRC calculators and tools – a complete list for both personal and company use – HMRC

Software Downloads

• Microsoft software downloads (including Windows 8, MS Office) – Microsoft
• Open Office – completely free suite of office applications – Open Office
• Neo Office – established free suite of office software for Mac users – Neo Office